Belgian short films win awards at Clermont-Ferrand Festival
Three Belgian short films have received awards at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival in France. This is one of the foremost short film festivals in the world.
Vihta, from François Bierry, won the national jury's special prize. The film, with Wim Willaert, Jean-Benoît Ugeux and Olivier Bonjour, among others, tells the story of five colleagues. The small company they work for is taken over by a larger group. The new owner invites the five of them to spend a day relaxing at a health resort.
Etat d'alerte sa mère (State of Emergency Motherfucker) from Sébastien Petretti received the Fernand Raynaud Laughter Award. This surreal comedy, with Younes El Mahmoudi and Yassine Fadel, among others, depicts a society where police brutality and invasions of privacy have become the norm.
Le marcheur (The Walker) from Frédéric Hainaut took home the prize of Best French-Language Animated Film. The film tells the story of a worker who is tired of his job and leaves, ultimately finding refuge with the Indignados.